Tim Goss has been appointed as McLaren's new technical director, replacing the Mercedes-bound Paddy Lowe.
Goss joined the Woking-based squad as a development engineer in 1990, but he has been working as the director of engineering since January 2011.
However, he has been elevated to a new position with Lowe "performing a different role" ahead of his move to rivals Mercedes at the end of the current season.
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh believes Goss "richly deserves" this promotion following more than 20 years of service.
"His quiet and unassuming persona conceals a fierce competitiveness and a wealth of experience, coupled to an unrivalled level of expertise in the field of Formula 1 car design and engineering," Whitmarsh said.
"It's a little-known fact, for example, that over the past 23 years he's made crucial technical and engineering contributions to the winning of five of McLaren's 12 Drivers' World Championships and three of McLaren's eight Constructors' World Championships, and that he's been the principal definer and developer of McLaren's F1 car design function for more than five years.
"In line with what Tim has said, I firmly believe that our technical and engineering team is the best in the F1 business, and that its strength in depth has always been and will continue to be an important element of our on-track success.
"Moreover, I'm certain that, in his expanded role, Tim will continue to lead it very capably indeed, and will evolve and improve it. That's his brief, and it's already clear that he's prepared to embrace it with energy and enthusiasm.
"In truth, though, this is a natural evolution in Tim's already very successful career, and the fact that the decision to offer him our Technical Directorship was so straightforward for Jonathan and me demonstrates two things: the robust and logical succession-planning that underpins the senior engineering personnel structure within Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, and the commitment we have to developing our people, over many years, allowing their talent and expertise to flourish in a collaborative and collegiate environment.
"That's good work practice, and it's worth lap-time."
As for Lowe's impending departure, Whitmarsh added: "Paddy Lowe will be performing a different role within McLaren until the end of the year. He's been a good and successful F1 Technical Director, and we wish him well when he embarks on a fresh challenge in 2014."
Goss is confident he will make a significant contribution as new technical chief.
"I'm delighted to have been offered the Technical Directorship of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes - one of the most prestigious positions in global sport - and I'm greatly looking forward to making a significant contribution to Vodafone McLaren Mercedes' ongoing success in that role," he said.
"As before, I'll be leading our car design operations, while continuing the process of evolving and improving our technical and engineering function in collaboration with Martin Whitmarsh, Jonathan Neale, Sam Michael, Neil Oatley and the rest of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes' hugely experienced technical and engineering team."
